POLICE Minister Corey Wingard has “no intention” to direct the Police Commissioner to reopen the Kalangadoo Police Station, prompting Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi to question the pair’s relationship.
Mr Wingard, who initially claimed he did not have the power to advise the commissioner to staff the single-officer station, has since admitted it is possible, but has refused to do so.
In a statement, Mr Wingard said he will not issue a ministerial direction to reinstate a permanent police officer in Kalangadoo, saying he “trusts the commissioner will make decisions in the best interests of community safety and policing”.
Mr Wingard said the last time a ministerial direction was issued was in “exceptional circumstances” involving ex-Premier Don Dunstan and Commissioner Harold Hubert Salisbury in 1978.
Mr Gandolfi labelled the minister’s admission he was able to direct the police commissioner as “interesting”.
“Given the minister’s comment is that a direction is rarely given, it raises the question what type of relationship the minister has with the police commissioner,” he said.
“Has he asked the police commissioner to keep the Kalangadoo Police Station open and maintain a detective position in Millicent or is he simply agreeing with the commissioner’s actions and therefore breaking an election promise not to cut any services from country towns?”
Mr Gandolfi highlighted the State Liberals’ election pledge to extend police station opening hours at three metropolitan police stations and Mr Wingard’s subsequent negotiation with the commissioner to honour the promise.
“It has been reported the minister has previously provided resources to the police commissioner to extend police station hours in Adelaide,” he said.
“He should do the same in providing extra resources in the country.”
Shadow Police Minister Lee Odenwalder labelled Mr Wingard’s remarks as “weasel words” and demanded the minister reinstate a police officer to Kalangadoo.
Mr Odenwalder questioned why Mr Wingard sought to broker a deal with police to extend the opening hours at three suburban stations while refusing to do the same in the regions.
“Police Minister Corey Wingard has suddenly declared that police stations are operational matters,” he said.
“If that was the case, why did Mr Wingard push the Police Commissioner to extend the opening hours at Norwood, Henley Beach and Glenelg police stations?
“If it’s good enough for the city, why is not it good enough for the country?”
In a recent sitting of parliament, Mr Odenwalder quizzed Mr Wingard on whether he would make an arrangement with the commissioner to reopen country police stations.
Mr Wingard told the house the issue would be resolved by the end of the statewide review into regional policing.
